Bill-file.



PATENTED JAN. 6, 1903 O. 0. GRID/IE3.

BILL FILE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

mac,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CEPH US O. GRIMES, OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA.

BILL-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,842, dated January 6, 1903. Application filed March 22, 1902. Serial No, 99 426. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OEPHUs 0. Games, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portsmouth, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bill-Files, of which the following is a specification.

My said invention consists in certain improvements in the details of construction and arrangement of parts of bill-files; and it relates more particularly to the construction of a case within which an ordinary bill-filing portfolio may be clamped and its contents compressed within the smallest convenient space, whereby it may be the more conveniently handled and will present a more sightly appearance, all as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a billfile mounted in a case of my improved construction, showing the closed position; Fig. 2, an end elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a detail sectional View through the rear edge of the case, showing the construction of the binding-posts; Fig. 4, a top or plan view of one of the said posts, and Fig. 5 an end elevation showing a modified form and the file partly open.

In said drawings the portion marked A represents the portfolio or-file-envelops, B the lower board of the case, and O the top board of said case.

The portfolio A is or may be of any ordinary or desired form, that shown-being a port folio in common use, comprising a number of pockets or envelope and adapted to be expanded as said pockets become filled. There may be as many of these pockets or envelope as desired for the use intended-for instance, one for each month or day of the year or for each letter of the alphabet or other desired division of the contents. Each pocket is provided on its front edge with an index-slip a, and a flap a preferably extends from the lower side of the portfolio and is adapted to pass completely over the front edge thereof and lap onto its top side, thus closing the front edge of the file against dust or dirt.

The lower board B of the case is preferably nected tothe lower board B by means of binding -posts, composed of an exteriorlyscrew-threaded pin 1, which is secured to the strip B, and an interiorly-screw-threaded sleeve 2, which engages with the strip 0, said sleeve 2 and post 1 being engaged as shown in Fig. 3, and the post 1 preferably connected with the strip B by means of a screw-threaded connectiom as there shown. The upper end of the sleeve 2 is provided with a head which is adapted to fit within a countersunk depression in the top surface of thestripfi and is itself formed with a depression within which a ring?) is mounted, by means of which ring 3 the said sleeve is turned on the post 1 to adjust the length of the parts. By this arrangement when the case is closed its top surface is left smooth and without any projecting parts to engage or catch in articles with which it may come into contact. I have indicated two of said binding-posts by dotted lines in Fig. 1, locating one near each end of the case; but, as will be readily understood,

any number desired or found suitable may be used. Said posts project through perforations in the rear edge of the portfolio or filing-envelope, as shown.

A single binding-post 4 of substantially the same construction as that shown in Fig. 3 is hinged centrally to the front edge of the lower board B, and the upper end of its sleeve is provided with an eye 5, adapted to engage over a knob 6 in the front edge ofthe top board, thus providing a convenient clasp for securing the front edges of said parts together.

In Fig. 5 I have shown the hinged strip 10, bearing the binding-posts, as extending back from the rear edge of the lower board and the top of said binding-posts engaging directly with the upper board, omitting the hinged strip 0'. This and other modifications in detailed arrangement may be made without departing from my invention, as will be readily whereby a case for the purpose is provided understood. By this means and arrangement of parts the file-case may be adjusted from time to time to accommodate a greater or less numbers of papers, as desired. As the portfolio. fills up it is only necessary to turn the sleeve 2 of each post by means of the ring 3, attached to the top thereof, to lengthen the binding-posts and permit the case to expand as desired or required. The post connecting the front edges of the parts Will be correspondingly adjusted, of course. In case it should be desired to expand the portfolio beyond the limits allowed by the sleeves 2 in use it may be done by the substitution of longer sleeves, it being a simple matter to provide sleeves of various lengths with each file-case.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A file-case comprising a portfolio inclosed between boards, which boards have longitudinal strips hinged to their respective rear edges and are adapted to close against the adjacent faces of said boards when the parts of said file-case are in closed position, screwthreaded pins mounted in one of said strips and extending through perforations in the rear edge of said portfolio, interiorly-screwthreaded sleeves extending through perforations in the other one of said strips and adapted to engage said screw-threaded pins, said sleeves being formed with heads and the strip through which they pass with recesses to receive said heads, and means for holding the front edges of said boards in closed position,

capable of being expanded and contracted and having a smooth exterior surface, substantially as set forth.

2. In a bill-file, the combination, of a portfolio comprising a number of pockets, a lower board with a hinged portion on its rear edge, screw -threaded pins connected with said hinged portion extending up through perforations in said portfolio, a board on the top of the said portfolio, a strip hinged to its rear edge, interiorly-screw-threaded sleeves extending through said strip and engaging with said screw-threaded pins, said sleeves being formed with heads which engage with said top strip, and a clasp consisting of a screwthreaded pin hinged on the lower board and having a sleeve thereon, provided with a head adapted to engage with a catch on the top board, substantially as set forth.

3. In a bill-file, the combination, of an expansible portfolio provided with pockets and having a flap adapted to overlap its front edge and cover the openings into said pockets, and a case containing said portfolio comprising a board on each side thereof connected by binding-posts carried on a strip hinged to one of said boards and formed adjustable as to their length and with their opposite ends engaging the other board, said binding-posts and strip and a clasp for connecting the front edges of said boards also adjustable as to its length, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Norfolk, Virginia, this 13th day of March, A. D. 1902.

OEPHUS o. GRIMES.

\Vitnesses:

LEMUELL PRIVETT, (J. S. STEVENS. 

